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[Jabberwocky]

I know we already have a few 3 car team threads. But what line up are we going to have?

Are they going to be established drivers? Or young drivers?

I would like to see young drivers getting the chance.

Merc - Bottas
Ferrari - Alonso/Koby
Mclaren - Alonso/button/max
Red bull - JEV

[LewEngBridewell]

Mclaren - Alonso/button/max

Max... Chilton?

[stonemonkey]

Do you mean that there could be some stipulation, what would define a young driver?

[Jabberwocky]

Yes, maybe the same qualifying status as for the young driver test.

Maybe something like less than 20 GP starts

[Hammer278]

I said it previously, it would be cool if they had the 3rd car with a different set of rules. Driver specific to experience (aka only test drivers/rookies/no more than 5GPs or wtv) and these cars are in a different league altogether. Points systems are different, and the car can be conspicuous (different branding/livery) and the first "3rd car" so to speak gets 10 points, and the 2nd gets 8, 3rd gets 6, so on (according to old points formula). This gives a chance for young drivers to test, get a shot at F1, prove their talents, bring in special branding/sponsorships (since sponsors have the opportunity to stand out) to make it look like 2 different formulas are racing in the same venue (but no performance difference!).

IMO it might make it look a bit complex to implement at first but they could easily tweak this with graphics (maybe have a list of all the 3rd cars on the right hand side of screen) showing their actual placings.

Drivers in the 3rd car either have to be promoted to a top tier (one of the two cars) after the first/second season or GTFO F1. No more than 2 full seasons in the 3rd car allowed. This puts pressure on the old farts to perform or GTFO since the young guys are always gunning for the prime seats.

[Ferrari man 009]

IMO it might make it look a bit complex to implement at first but they could easily tweak this with graphics (maybe have a list of all the 3rd cars on the right hand side of screen) showing their actual placings.

All you would need is a different background colour (e.g. if the main one is black/grey) then the 3rd drivers could be shown in white. Anyway, didnt a similar thing happen in 1987 for non-turbos?

[Murphy]

I've been trying to think who would go where if three car teams was to happen...

Mercedes could probably pick whoever they want, such is their position of power, but if this was to happen right now then it would be Fernando Alonso.

For Red Bull, I would see no harm in promoting Jean-Eric Vergne for a season or two, despite their best efforts to ignore him.

I could see Williams promoting Felipe Nasr for their third car, mainly because of the links there.

Ferrari is the hardest one for me, they would probably try and keep hold of Alonso but I think it's past the point of no return with that relationship.

McLaren would probably promote Stoffel Vandoorne if they couldn't secure find another 'big name' to drive alongside Button and Magnussen.

Force India...Daniel Juncadella? That is if they don't pick up someone decent like Kobayashi or maybe Palmer.

Toro Rosso would probably bring in Sainz Jnr and Da Costa alongside Verstappen (I think Lynn is a tad too young).

Sauber would go all out for cash so an Ericsson, Gutierrez and van der Garde (personally, I think VDG is a solid driver) line-up there.

Absolutely clueless about Lotus...you'd think they might need a pay-driver but failing that, maybe fast-tracking Ocon?

For the record I don't believe three-car teams are going to happen, it's just fun to hypothesise! Three-car teams would require Caterham, Marussia and either Sauber/Lotus dropping off and I don't think that's likely at all.

[LRW]

McLaren would probably promote Stoffel Vandoorne if they couldn't secure find another 'big name' to drive alongside Button and Magnussen.

I think Eric would want to get Romain Grosjean in. When the Lotus was good last year, he had some amazing races, showed that he has the talent, and seems to have got rid of his early career demons.

[racechick]

I agree about Grosjean, I think he'd be there if it weren't for Alonso dithering.

I'm not sure Merc would take Alonso as long as they have their car advantage. Could upset the apple cart too much

Be good to see JEV given a shot.

Personally I think the rules should stipulate a young/ test driver but I'm not sure how that would work. And you wouldn't want a host of inexperienced drivers flooding the grid.

How would the scoring work do you think? Would the team have to stipulate from the outset which drivers would accumulate WCC points? Already that would be a problem if Merc run Lewis Nico and Alonso. Or would the team each time take the two top sorting cars for WCC points? That's an unfair advantage if they do over the two car teams. Presumably all the drivers can still race for their own points?

Sorry if that issue has been discussed and I missed it.

[What's Burning?]

Haven't even thought about the 3 car team issue... not my focus at the moment. As a concept it has the ability to be net positive. However we know how idiotic this sport can be, and anything Bernie is behind has 1, and ulterior motive, and 2, the very distinct possibility of it going sideways.

The absolute reality of it is that we'd not be having the discussion if there was no contractual cost impact to CVC and Bernie. But there is and so we're talking about it. This "idea" however has some very good possibilities, front and center of which is the ability to bring young drivers and give them a shot.

I know one thing... I'd rather see 33 or 36 cars on the grid, of which 24 qualify for race day than have the lineup consist of 21 cars, seven teams.

[spankyham]

I want to see Jules make a miraculous recovery and get any third seat at Ferrari